Gunman Kills 3 in Swiss Village

2 injured, suspect arrested: police

(Newser)
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A man armed with an old military rifle and a handgun shot and killed three women and wounded two men last night in a southern Swiss village, police said. Police shot and wounded the suspect after he threatened to also shoot officers who arrived at the scene in the village of Daillon, said a police chief. The gunman was then arrested. The chief said the suspect was using a military rifle that was once standard issue in the Swiss army during the first half of the 20th century.

A police rep said the shooter lived in Daillon, and the motive for the shooting was not clear. A prosecutor said the shooter—who was not identified—knew several of the victims, but "he was not known for making threats." He was unemployed and had been receiving psychiatric care since at least 2005, when he was first admitted to a psychiatric hospital, and was under the care of an agency that provides services and counseling to the disabled, she said. It wasn't immediately clear how the shooter obtained his weapons, but the rifle is popularly sold in military surplus markets. Click through for the full story.

Police patrol in the village of Daillon after a shooting, in Switzerland, early Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013.
(AP Photos/Keystone, Olivier Maire)

A view of the village of Daillon after a shooting, in Switzerland, early Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013.
(AP Photos/Keystone, Olivier Maire)

Again the common thread: a history of mental illness. "had been receiving psychiatric care since at least 2005, when he was first admitted to a psychiatric hospital. " This person had mental illness and access to guns. There is the root of the problem. Possible solutions: Better identification of those in need of mental help, better treatment and care. Shared registry list of names qualified by various mental health professionals of those who should not be allowed gun possession. Not a list of health info just names like the no fly list. Enforcement, education, proficiency testing, licensing, registration and tracking of gun sales much like vehicles. Use ownership titling like vehicles to track sales and ownership. You could have to renew your registration like a car and at that time your name gets check against the list of names. Just as in vehicle accident and deaths you won't eliminate all, but you will reduce the number and have a reliable system of tracking gun crime back to ownership of the gun.

JoeQ

Jan 3, 2013 9:54 AM CST

Who needs a semi-automatic rifle to go on a rampage. An old bolt-action Mauser will do.

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